Final answer:
A significant number of Americans are either delaying marriage or not marrying at all, with cohabitation and single parenting becoming more socially acceptable. The median age for marriage has increased, and societal norms regarding marriage are evolving.
Step-by-step explanation:
About how many Americans who get married are not saying "I do" for the first time? Looking at recent trends, a significant number of Americans are either delaying marriage or opting out of it entirely. Factors such as the acceptance of single parenting and cohabitation, and the shift in priorities towards education and career, contribute to this phenomenon. Furthermore, with the growing number of marriage patterns, it is evident that traditional U.S. family structures are changing.
Data suggest that many people are now living together before marriage, which could be associated with a first-time marriage happening at an older age. According to the American Community Survey, cohabitation has increased markedly since the 1970s, from fewer than one million unmarried couples to 8.1 million in 2011. Additionally, the survey by the Pew Research Center indicates that 39 percent of respondents believe marriage is becoming obsolete, reflecting a shift in societal attitudes towards marriage.
It's also worth noting that the median age for marriage has risen to twenty-six for women and twenty-eight for men, the highest recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau. These trends, paired with the fact that by a certain age a significant percentage of the population will have never married, suggest that the number of Americans getting married for the first time at a later age, if at all, is quite substantial.